Making a Simple Wood Splitting Tool (Froe)

[@HannahMattox]

This makes me miss hanging out with my old man in his shop, watching him take tools and random things he'd find and turn them into either another useful tool or some kind of piece of art. My uncle gave him a piece of purple heart wood that he found and my dad made it into a small boat paddle to go with my mom's ship art. It had a tiny worm hole in it and he left it in it, and it was used as the hanging piece so she didn't have to mount a hanger to it. She still has it, though he's gone now, but watching channels like this really make my heart go back to a happy place of my childhood.

[@pmacc3557]

The man is making us jealous. Fair play to him. Can't beat the ol' boys😊

[@BigMOFAKINRed]

I got caught up watching the process and ended up learning what a "froe" is. This video was a two-for- one!

[@playerone9705]

Happy humon noise

[@online12plus]

it was a two froe one

[@davidjames2145]

Perfect! I need a large froe and was about to buy one then saw the price! This is exactly what I need. This is also a perfect KZbin video in my book; no annoying background music, just the sound of the work. The maker has obviously made a lot of things in his life given the fluency of this; it's very enjoyable to watch. Liked, subscribed and saved for future reference. 👍 🇬🇧

[@pmacc3557]

Good stuff. Did you make one? What metal did you get for the blade?

[@colewyman9413]

Hey i gotta tell you when you took the blade out of that saw and re-attached it inside the loop of that leaf spring that might have been some of the smartest shit ive ever seen

[@TheHarleyhillbilly]

Cole Wyman that was a smart move.

[@brian9731]

I'm a service engineer for security systems (CCTV, alarms etc). Sometimes, what I do is mechanical or electrical and other times it's sitting at a computer dealing with software. Add to that, it's on customer premises, not on a fully equipped workshop and often (though not right now with Covid-19) it's with what I can carry on public transport in Central London. It makes me very resourceful!

[@chadmoyer1453]

Lol.

[@davidmiller134]

Then we're thinking why didn't I do that

[@opieoperativefunkshady9179]

The end where the wood was chopped so perfectly, was gorgeous.

[@lightriver3474]

by the effects of quarantine videos like this have become very interesting

[@cameronf3343]

You know what’s better than voiceover commentary? Text commentary that says “let me play you the song of my people” as an angle grinder goes about making chipped fire. I like it. 👍🏼

[@Yamesy]

It’s unreal how this man turns scrap metal and things into amazing pieces of craftsmanship.

[@TheSmallWorkshop]

Thank you!

[@badbrain8279]

I had one of these once. "Mother Earth News" showed how to make one. After trying this again with a storebought one many years later I decided it was too much trouble. You have to get straight grained wood with almost no knots which is very hard to do these days. I've always wondered how pine would do. There is nearly none available here.

[@kool-aidcherryc6523]

Idk and know one knows he dose magic

[@kool-aidcherryc6523]

Also The Small Workshop why don’t you talk like you have to do this first then this why do you not talk

[@skinfish8929]

@@badbrain8279 it works with pine wood , I did some , in the past . I made a froe like this , somme yrs ago , with Triumph Spitfire leaf spring , ( it was too thick ) then I tried a gransfor bruks one( I made a video on KZbin , of epicea shingles making ) , and then found a very old one , forged here ( SW of France ) that was rusted but very good to use .

[@wesleyofficer1237]

As a purist, this kills me. As a realist, I Love it! As a woodworker that Steel hammer on a steel tool made me cringe. But overall GREAT JOB! (I need a froe, hence my finding your video)

[@kool-aidcherryc6523]

I loved it to

[@rossbrumby1957]

Splitting kindling I wouldn't call woodworking.

[@nickbacon8292]

It looked to me like a rubber mallet

[@jeffreybarnes1478]

The steel hammer on steel tool bothered me also. Try a wood mallet. Great job on the video though.

[@michaelmccoy1794]

Here in the pacific northwest froes are used to split cedar into blocks for milling into shakes and shingles. We don't use a wooden mallet (laughing my guts out). We use a mallet with a heavy cylinder of lead for a head.

[@NotUndertaleAaron]

I love the little notions he adds every so often, they make the experience just that more enjoyable.

[@TheSmallWorkshop]

Glad you like them! Some people think they are cringy.

[@acrazydurian]

@@TheSmallWorkshop and those people are WRONG

[@CrazyMonkeyBoy7]

0:29 my man knows how to make straight lines without a ruler

[@Michael-Makes-Stuff]

YOU. ARE. AMAZING! 😍 I love watching you work. What you create is awesome, and the fact it is done in a small shop with common tools makes it that much better. Keep up the great work, sir! 👍🏼

[@sciangear4782]

To catch your grinder sparks (learnt this from Veradona in the Czech Republic), get a thin sheet of steel, bend at a right angle so it will stand up by itself, attach a few strong magnets to the back. When you're done, lie the shield down, remove the magnets, use the shield as a funnel to tip the dust into a container for disposal. Brilliantly simple

[@paulwilson2204]

What can you use an angle grinder for? Yes.

[@valentinheredia5558]

Cut-off-wheel

[@cspann2872]

That is waaaay cool. I never would have thought of a leaf spring. The froe I bought decades ago was a ring of pipe welded to a blade and I made my own handle. It got lost in one of my moves so now I'm gonna make my own. I'm thinking I would weld the loop closed so the leverage won't twist it open. I have a whole dead ash tree and I can't wait to split it up into baseball bats and shaker rockers. Thanks for the video!

[@bradyrushingtv]

BRAVO!!! I watched this one several times, and it just keeps gettin' better! Thanks for the video!

[@liversin]

it's so cool what you do with old rusted stuff ! i've always wanted to find old things and turn them into something useful, like a long gone rusted car. i wish i had this patience and talent..

[@walter2990]

I liked how he placed all of the items on his workbench, then started grinding..., with his hearing protection left sitting on the bench. File that under: Things we did when we were younger, but that now we regret. ;)

[@johnbutterworth608]

That was the spare set for trainees.

[@Traderjoe]

It’s exactly what I was thinking it would be from! I had been looking for a leaf spring ever since I saw your picture. It’s weird how occasionally I will see shattered fragments of leaf springs on the side of the road, but never when I specifically look for them. Sometimes trucks or trailers get overloaded or hit a pot hole and the leaf springs get ruptured from the mounts and I see them just laying there. But now that I want to find one, I will never see another one again. I saw someone else make one from the hinge from a barn door.

[@TheSmallWorkshop]

I think spring steel is better than barn door hinge steel. You should find cheap leaf springs at car scrap yards.

[@dustinv8540]

@@TheSmallWorkshop thanks for sharing this build. May I ask the size of the spring? Or which common vehicle to get it from? Is the diameter recommended to be a size specific?

[@rossbrumby1957]

Not all leaf spring end loops are ideally shaped like that one, many don't have the blade section central to the circle. This won't affect the operation of the froe, but for symmetry and looks I'd find one like used here.

[@nevermore888]

here we go, 2 a.m and this pop up. time to watch.

[@Till27_Spence]

This channel is not only interesting but oddly satisfying. Usually can make me fall asleep if it’s late enough. No homo just chill

[@fernandoreti4905]

what a smart project ... I liked it and I think I'll make one for myself

[@mathguy829]

On a scale of 1 to 10, that was an ELEVEN. Nice work. (May I order one please???)

[@williamburgos2963]

Ok, now take the rest of that leaf spring and make an awesome DRAW KNIFE with it.

[@horseblinderson4747]

Cloggers peg knife, elbow and tang adzes. Leaf springs are decent steel.

[@Bufflapierre]

My favorite part of the video is when you show good safety etiquette by unplugging the angle grinder to change the disk.

[@TheSmallWorkshop]

I had one start on me out of the blue once, because it's button failed... Weird design, the switch was always on and a lever was keeping it off, when the leaver failed the button went to it's natural state of ON and it started jumping on the floor... Scary stuff! (It was not a Makita)

[@Hawkeye4077md]

I like how the earmuffs are just sitting there on the bench. Great video. Awesome idea though.

[@stovepipe9er]

Good to see all the safety Sally’s are here.

[@yeagerxp]

@@stovepipe9er The safety Sallys are correct we should not knock them, I am 59 years old and am going to the family "I didn't hear what you said, please repeat" WTF I never used hear protection

[@Wuffman]

I noticed that and was glad to see it as well. Demonstrating good safety practice deserves a pat on the back.

[@ianpeden2906]

I really enjoyed that. I'm still using something similar that my Father made in the Sixties, but with the metal tubular handle welded on in line with the blade.

[@ScottEaton74]

I looked all over for a good looking froe and a way to make one. I built my almost exactly like yours. I used a friends hydraulic press to straighten the leaf spring. I am curious to see how the eye hold up. I know that you welded it eventually but I saw another video were the guy said that keeping it opened helped the handle to be pinched and not fall out as easily. Lot of comments on here are from people who do not know about froes. Some good comments to but... You did a great job.

[@TheSmallWorkshop]

I welded the eye because when it was opened it got loose really fast. After welding I had zero problems with it, so I recomend welding. And thanks!

[@USCtrojanFootball1]

I like seeing how creative people are able to repurpose stuff that would end up in a junkyard or worse a landfill.

[@JohnnyBravo1977]

Pacat ca faci clipuri atat de rar, esti bun si meriti mai mult

[@DanielH]

Puțin si bun

[@TheSmallWorkshop]

Multumesc, mai greu cu timpul...

[@DanielWorkshop]

@@TheSmallWorkshop ca la toti. Timpu-i problema.

[@ourfamilyoutdoors7331]

This is an excellent idea, I think I’ll find a leaf spring and try to make a froe and a draw knife from it.

[@dennisbenjamin3602]

I love your tape measure marker

[@visumexcipio]

Dang, I gotta go find a spring!!! To easy.

[@arcwizz7981]

Bravo, esti artist cu ustensilele !

[@TheSmallWorkshop]

Multumesc!

[@waltertoday1074]

Great tutorial and agree it is way better without the usual random muzak found on others ! :-). For a more robust tool that stays on the handle when really levering take the Froe to your local garage and have them drop a weld down the hole-blade junction. Did that for mine many years ago and it has been super solid.

[@josiahtheblacksmith467]

One of the simplest ways of making a froe I've seen yet

[@waveman0]

a couple of suggestions, if you have the ability to oil quench the froe to harden the blade and temper it, just to ensure it is hardened properly. Also never hit the spine of the froe with a metal hammer, use a wooden baton

[@yonig88199]

What is this "oil quench" thing?

[@charlesknight3204]

Excellent video; better job on a very useful splitting tool that will last generations!!! Absolutely superb!!! God bless!!! Chuck Knight from Buffalo, Texas. 🤠

[@stevewithaphen]

Very nice build! I love watching you fabricate a very helpful tool

[@quarlow1215]

This is great. I've been thinking about buying a froe but I would much rather work with one I made myself.

[@jerryodell1168]

Great idea. It would be good to have about three of these with three different size blades for the shop. One shorter, one longer, and one the same size.

Leaf spring is the best solution to make a froe, very good job! 👍Idid one with a lown mower blade, it's ok too.

[@JSolisHD]

One more video, before I go to bed (4am) Here I am wayching a blacksmith make a froe.

[@SiRicketts]

Ok, so I ended up watching this as I'm about to replace an ash handle on a small axe. Wow, what a brilliant tool. I have to chop some kindling this afternoon so now I've seen this I won’t be satisfied until I've made one. Of course we're on lock down here in the uk so no chance of getting to a breakers yard for a leaf spring for a while. Have subscribed so I'll have to be content with watching someone else make stuff for now. Stay safe and keep up the great work. 👍🏻

[@stich1960]

Just grab one off a neighbor's car, sure they won't mind.

[@jimmywyatt4144]

My grandpa used to make garden shoes out of leaf springs! I have one he made that is close to 100 years old

[@timcole6882]

Thanks, it’s gonna make splitting kindling easier and less messy.

[@ianmoone2359]

If you make a pair of them, do you then have a two & fro? 😜😂😂👍🇦🇺

[@yeagerxp]

Excellent work👍👍👍. Thanks for sharing.

[@MrMEmEmEmEMEMEeeeeee]

Handsaw/white pencil/pencil/grinder/wire brush/flap wheel/cutting wheel/grinding wheel/spring/hammer/wooden handle/hacksaw/tape measure/visegrips/pocketknife/vise/cooling tub...maybe a FEW more things than 3...just giving you a hard time-this is a wonderful project and your camera work and editing was great! All YT videos should be as well done as this one.

[@MrMarkpeggy]

Excellent project and video! Thanks for sharing.

[@MarkMcCluney]

Gallileo made wood splitters? I'd no idea. Great vid mate.

[@harrylake9388]

That was really awesome to watch! Bad ass

[@grigoreclaudiuciocotisan3043]

Nu am transpirat la filme de actiune cum am transpirat la videoul asta!! Cum stau berile alea cu gatul expuse sub bancul de lucru, o miscare gresita si se putea intampla o tragedie!! :) Felicitari pentru video! Chiar cautam detalli despre o unealta asta dupa ce am vazut un video cu mesteri artizanali care faceau sindrila folosind asa ceva

[@johnmutton799]

Literally already made! Great idea! Thanks for showing! But do not hit with steel hammer!

[@bajojohn]

You’ve convinced me... to BUY a froe. This looks great btw.

[@rossbrumby1957]

I've never seen one in any hardware store, so good luck.

[@ELEVOPR]

I want one and live in NYC and don't even need a wood chopping tool 🤗

[@TheVocalMale]

Brilliant! The simplicity was great

[@MCsCreations]

Pretty beautiful job, dude! Really fantastic!!! 😃

[@imright9957]

Necessity is the mother of inventions

[@gilbert4351]

Definitely a good tool!! I think i will also create one. Thanks for a great idea! 😊👍👍

[@TheSmallWorkshop]

Happy you found it useful!

[@terryt2910]

Awesome video. This will be a great help for me in finishing my froe. BUT...no metal mallet. Use a wooden one!

[@markluke8447]

Great job, nice work.

[@BrookZerihun]

well done sir

[@wrongfullyaccused7139]

I thought for certain you were going to weld the eye closed. One of the key uses of a froe was to use the handle to lever the green wood apart after being driven in to make boards, shingles or kindling. Welding the eye shut would make for a more stable tool. What really turned me off was when you struck the froe with a steel hammer. A froe is struck with a wooden maul, never with a steel hammer. Your use of a leaf spring was a good idea though.

[@TheSmallWorkshop]

I ended up welding the handle after a month or so.

[@stevejohnson5922]

A very handy outcome

[@brunojames4626]

Love the Galileo reference

[@ataarjomand]

Very nice clip. Nice filming, lighting and very clear. And you did a good job on the project itself.

[@КошмарКошмар-й2б]

Hi 👋 good idea 👍good job 👍

[@pluisnonplux9728]

Love it, and it saves you a lot of money!!

[@davidgraf1909]

Thank you for showing all what ear protection looks like while using the most loudest piece of equipment known to Joe Sixpack. Best cheapest way to make a froe. But I’m thinking you didn’t need to recess the eye or dog ear the top end otherwise you could get more cuts out of you wheel. I think you should make these and sell them. I’d pay 20 for a 16 inch long

[@lizarantes7962]

Him: gets hit by sparks on all places possible. Also him who had the infinity gantlet under his skin the whole time: “ tis but a mere scratch”

[@emanueljuarez7348]

gracias genio idolo! ahora a crear el mio!

[@janekchmielewaski2049]

Good job man

[@Clickumentary]

Hey that's great! Brilliantly simple device.

[@the_borax_kid2233]

Hey my boss always said grinding wheels before sanding wheels. Cost efficiency is worth every penny. Also weld the joint for the pin on that spring

[@TheSmallWorkshop]

Thanks, I used a grinding wheel before the sanding one. You can see it at the 3:30 minute mark. And also you are right about the welding, I ended up doing that after a few months.

[@the_borax_kid2233]

@@TheSmallWorkshop sorry man always watching from a phone makes it a bit harder to see, props 👏 on making it though

[@mrmanusia]

Nice tool, never seen before

[@pmacc3557]

Brilliant work 👏👏💯

[@retiringrenegade9874]

What was the liquid applied to the piece? Great project!

[@jamessalerno4234]

Most impressive part was the freehand straight line with the white crayon

[@larryferguson3387]

Thanks for your ingenuity.

[@Ikariel]

Wouah great tool, never seen that before Great work too 😺

[@fernandoulibarri4415]

Hi, grate video but you skip the part were you staighten the leaf spring, can you coment on how did you did it? I have alredy cut myne and have that problem... Thanks...

[@DRJMF1]

Normal leaf springs are curved. I can only find curved or arched leaf springs egford transit van 1.2 cm thick and 76mm wide. The blacksmiths said that the only way to preserve torsional strength of spring steel is to hydraullically press a curved leaf spring into a straight one suitable for use as a froe. If th3 spring is inserted into a forge and heated then the torsional strength is lost, that’s not an option. The eye on the spring allows insertion of a wooden handle however i5 must be tight otherwise high torques associated with splitting thick logs will rotate the handle loose. What do you suggest to combat these practical manufacture problems ?

[@blacktridentgoods]

What type of oil did you use on the blade to preserve the metal?

[@lovesupreme6154]

That's badass bro.

[@DESLA-Waretown]

Excellent video!!!

[@KarawangChannel7]

Super like your video

[@joerambo4977]

That would be perfect for making cedar shingles and for pennies on the dollar if you made one of them and bought or harvested the raw cedar logs

[@ryanb1874]

Ah, and the Mexican race of roofers had not yet been invented...Oh, hot damn, I was thinking Adze, now I actually know, thanks for not getting it right stupid little library book with black and white drawings...

[@b.atwater3904]

That's what a Froe is for. I taught a pioneer woodworking class at a museum in the 80s and demonstrated making cedar shigles for hundreds of 4th graders. The Froe was hand forged blacksmith style, the handle was shorter and the mallet was a round of white oak.

[@skinfish8929]

@@b.atwater3904 in the East of France , I did some epicea shingles and you are right the handle is shorter than this and we never use steel hammer , but wood hammer , epicea too , hand made ( once a week ). In Switzerland , they make very thin shingles , using a really small froe with a short ( 10 cm , 4 inches ) handle . I was told by a forest man that holly wood was best for handles , never injures your skin , for every tool - better than oak or ash . here , in SW of France , the froe was used for splitting vine yard stakes , of black locust

[@skinfish8929]

@leonard williams lucky you

[@rossbrumby1957]

You might want to heat and straighten the slight curve out first or use a sagged leaf spring that is now flat.

[@horseblinderson4747]

Those leaf springs are good decent steel usually.

[@1314-t9z]

Good job!

[@jeff5951]

Good meticulous work!

[@elusive.firstname.lastname]

Love watching your projects, this actually gives me an idea to make a kama

[@zeebzeebo]

oh shut up weeaboo

[@elusive.firstname.lastname]

Zeeb hahaha

[@jeffjohnson3091]

When making it what oil do u use. and what is he dipping it in Must be hard question

[@williambeshearssr3958]

That's great but I still love my forge , anvil and hammers but it is great thank you

[@JimAlaska49]

That was very satisfying to watch :)

[@20252529]

Roy Underhill would be proud

[@leavenotrace8890]

Great Job I love the idea I will be working on my......Thanks!!!

[@mullerman1104]

Uhh, I have that Thing in my Basement, always wanted to know what it does

[@crazyl1282]

Very cool idea.

[@ferd.6779]

Fine job indeed and the result is working well!! Love those vids keep up the good work!

[@ic3playa]

Good beer choice! Hai noroc! 🍻